IRAQI LETTER is a blog dedicated to news reports and viewpoints of Iraqi democrats and Left activists. It endeavours to cover important events and relevant activities of Iraqi democratic groups inside Iraq and abroad.
IRAQI LETTER hopes to contribute to a better understanding of the current complex and difficult situation in Iraq, and the multifaceted struggle of Iraqi democrats for a free, fully sovereign, unified, democratic and federal Iraq.

This
morning, Saturday 11 February 2017, thousands of our Iraqi people rallied in a
peaceful demonstration in Tahrir (Liberation) Square in central Baghdad. Their
statements, slogans and chants expressed their determination to continue their
march on the path of reform and change and combating corruption. Demonstrators
demanded the dissolution of the Electoral Commission and the formation of a new
commission that is truly independent, away from the quota system, ensuring that
the candidates for its board of trustees are characterized by integrity,
credibility, professionalism and impartiality. They also called upon the
parliament to legislate a fair and equitable election law that expands
participation in decision-making, is non-exclusionary, does not impose the
hegemony and domination of certain forces and blocs, and protects the voice of
the voters and safeguards their will in choosing their representatives.

Unfortunately,
these demands and appeals throughout the past period were not heeded by the
ruling forces that resorted to procrastination, under various pretexts. As a
result, protests have continued and widened, with diverse demands, including various
social strata and spreading to several provinces and cities.

Rather
than complying and taking concrete measures to achieve reform, and proceeding ahead
toward its objectives as demanded by the masses, and without learning the
lessons of previous painful experiences, the demonstrators were confronted
without warning with live ammunition, as well as the heavy use of rubber
bullets and tear gas, at a time when the demonstrators were loudly chanting "Peaceful
... Peaceful". This excessive and extensive use of violence led to a
number of fatalities among the demonstrators in addition to dozens wounded, victims
of rubber bullets and tear gas. This reflects the deliberate use of excessive
force and cruelty which is totally unjustified.

We
condemn, in the strongest words, the use of force and violence in dealing with
peaceful demonstrations that are guaranteed by the law and the Constitution and
that are making just demands. We hold the
Prime Minister directly responsible for this, being the Commander in Chief of
the Armed Forces. He must immediately reveal the identity of those who gave the
orders to shoot and use violence in contravention of his directives to the
security forces to protect the demonstrators. An investigative committee must
be set up that should include in its membership representatives of the
protesters or judges acting on their behalf.

The
consequences of what has happened today must not be dealt with as it has in the
past, because this will deepen the divide between citizens and state agencies
and institutions, and will aggravate the atmosphere of mistrust at a time when
there is desperate need for building it on the basis of transparency,
credibility and support for the just and peaceful demands of the people.

We
express full solidarity with the families of the martyrs, wishing the injured a
speedy recovery. We are certain and confident that bullets, whether they are live
or rubber, will not weaken the will of the people and their yearning for a
better life.